Border Patrol began arrests Saturday in Charlotte under Operation Charlotte’s Web, prompting local leaders to urge calm and remind residents that Charlotte‑Mecklenburg police do not enforce federal immigration laws. DHS said nearly 1,400 ICE detainers in North Carolina were not honored and framed the operation as a public‑safety response. Community groups reported agents across multiple corridors, and migrant advocates helped distribute rights cards at a local bakery where owners and customers expressed fear. County officials warned the deployment is causing anxiety and raised concerns about detaining people without criminal records.
Border Patrol Begins Arrests in Charlotte as Officials Urge Calm
Border Patrol began arrests Saturday in Charlotte under Operation Charlotte’s Web, prompting local leaders to urge calm and remind residents that Charlotte‑Mecklenburg police do not enforce federal immigration laws. DHS said nearly 1,400 ICE detainers in North Carolina were not honored and framed the operation as a public‑safety response. Community groups reported agents across multiple corridors, and migrant advocates helped distribute rights cards at a local bakery where owners and customers expressed fear. County officials warned the deployment is causing anxiety and raised concerns about detaining people without criminal records.
11:34 AM, 11/16/2025Politics
Border Patrol Begins Arrests in Charlotte; Officials Call for Calm
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Federal Border Patrol agents began making arrests Saturday as a Border Patrol deployment — described by the Department of Homeland Security as Operation Charlotte’s Web — got underway in the city. DHS said the operation aims to “ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.”
Local leaders moved quickly to reassure residents and urge calm, stressing that the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department does not participate in federal immigration enforcement. Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden confirmed this week that he had been notified of Border Patrol plans to operate in Charlotte.
DHS has said nearly 1,400 Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers across North Carolina “have not been honored,” and framed the deployment as a response to those releases. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said there have been “too many victims” of crimes by undocumented immigrants and added that President Donald Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem “will step up to protect Americans when sanctuary politicians won’t.”
Community Reaction and Reports
Community organizations and residents reported a heightened federal presence across several corridors early Saturday, including South Boulevard, Archdale, Arrowood, Central Avenue, Rosehaven and Sharon Amity. Local reporters captured video of Border Patrol agents escorting a man in handcuffs at a shopping center in east Charlotte and pulling another man from his truck. Agents were also seen in a Home Depot parking lot on North Wendover Road.
At a longstanding Latin bakery in east Charlotte, owner Manolo Betancur said his staff were preparing thousands of conchas and doughnuts when federal officials swept through the parking lot. Betancur, who carries his U.S. passport, described fear in the community: “A lot of children have lost their parents this morning,” he said, and worried agents might not believe his citizenship because of his accent and appearance.
Migrant advocates distributed wallet‑sized cards in English and Spanish explaining legal rights, advising people to decline to answer questions or sign documents without an attorney present. Mecklenburg County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez‑McDowell visited the bakery and expressed alarm at the scale of the roundups: “When you’re coming and just rounding up people, and you’re looking for collateral damage... I think that you’ve crossed a line.”
Legal Concerns and Wider Context
Officials and advocates pointed to recent high‑profile federal immigration operations in other cities. In Chicago, a judge cited warrantless detention for a majority of arrests under Operation Midway Blitz and ordered the release of hundreds of detainees; in Portland, federal deployments tied to immigration enforcement spurred protests and legal scrutiny over use of force. Mecklenburg County officials said Saturday that these recent actions have caused “unnecessary fear and uncertainty,” and they warned of potential detentions of people without criminal records.
The situation remained fluid through Saturday evening as community groups, officials and federal agencies monitored developments. Authorities urged residents to remain peaceful, know their rights, and report incidents to local legal aid and advocacy organizations if they believe civil or constitutional rights have been violated.
Note: This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.